e screen,
so Russ took pictures from either rail, no members of the company
being required in these. Mr. Pertell thus had a chance to talk to
Sandy.

The young fellow was very willing to tell about himself.

"Yes, I live on a farm," he said. "It's a right nice place, too, in
summer, though lonesome in winter. I've lived there all my twenty-two
years--never knew any other place."

"Do you live there all alone?" asked Ruth, for the young farmer had
been introduced to the members of the company.

"No, my father and mother are there with me. Father is Mr. Felix
Apgar--maybe you've heard of him?" the young man asked the manager,
innocently.

"No, I don't think so," and Mr. Pertell had hard work to repress a
smile.

"Well, he used to ship a lot of asparagus to New York, but maybe that
was before your day," went on Sandy. "Pop is too feeble to work now,
so I'm running the farm for him. And it--it's sorter hard," he added,
rather pathetically. "Especially when you ain't got any too much
money. I come to New York to raise some," he went on, "but folks
don't seem to want to part with any--especially on a second
mortgage."

"Is that what you came for?" asked Mr. Pertell.

"Yep. I come to raise some money--we need it bad, out our way, but I
couldn't do it."

"Suppose you tell me," suggested Mr. Pertell. "I may be able to help
you."

"Say, Mister, I reckon you've got enough troubles of your own,
without bothering with mine," said Sandy. "Besides, maybe Pop
wouldn't like me to tell. No, I'll jest make another try somewhere
else. But we sure do need cash!"

"What for?" asked the manager, impulsively.

"Oh, maybe pop wouldn't like me to say. Never mind. It was sure good
of you to ask me for this ride. The folks at Beatonville won't
believe me when I tell 'em. But say, if ever you folks come out
there, we'll give you a right good time--at Oak Farm!" he added,
generously.

"Is your farm a large one?" asked the manager.

"Hundred and sixty acres. Some woodland, some flat, a lot of it hilly
and stony, and part with a big creek on it."

"Hum," mused Mr. Pertell. "That sounds interesting. I've been looking
for a good farm to stage several rural dramas on, and your place may
be just what I need."

"To buy?" asked Sandy, eagerly.

"Oh, no. But I might rent part of it for a time. I'll talk to you
about it later. I've got to get some of these scenes going now," and
the manager went to confer with Russ.

CHAPTER